The United States has officially closed its country review of the Philippines with respect to labor rights under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
The DTI said the US Trade Representative issued a statement indicating the decision to close the review is “based on progress by the Philippine government in addressing worker rights issues in that country, including through reforms of labor laws and regulations.”
“The US acknowledges our initiatives towards creating decent jobs and upholding workers’ rights. The closing of the GSP country review on the Philippines is indeed a major milestone for Philippine trade and labor,” Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. said.
The DTI said the GSP country review on Philippine labor standards and practices started in 2008 and focused on monitoring the country’s progress on labor-related issues and labor reform legislations.
The US GSP seeks to promote economic growth and development in developing countries through preferential and duty-free entry to the US market of products from 122 designated beneficiary countries and territories, including the Philippines.
It covers a total of 5,000 products or about 47 percent of the 10,600 total US tariff lines.
The DTI, however, said the trade benefits are tied to conditionalities which include intellectual property rights protection, upholding of workers’ rights, and protection against child labor.
“The list of GSP eligible countries and articles may be modified in response to a petition and based on the findings of the annual review,” the DTI said.
Philippine exports under the US GSP reached $1.27 billion in 2013, making it the fifth largest user of the program.
The GSP program includes most dutiable manufactures and semi-manufactures, and selected agricultural, fishery, and primary industrial products.
Products that are prohibited by law from receiving GSP treatment include most textiles, watches, footwear, handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, leather apparel as well as other articles determined to be import-sensitive such as products of steel, glass, and electronics. –Richmond S. Mercurio, Philstar.com
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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